Cotton harvesting machine



April 21, 1953 G. A. PRUSER COTTON HARVESTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 12,1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 606 my 4 1 90.959,

April 21, 1953 A. PRUSER COTTON HARVESTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Dec. 12, 1950 INVENTOR.

447'7'0E/VEYS.

Aprll 21, 1953 G. A. PRUSER 2,635,407

COTTON HARVESTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 12, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet s 'MMMINVENTOR. 60:741 .4. pew-5e,

WTW TWW Patented Apr. 21, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to a cotton harvesting machine adapted to stripthe cotton from the stalk in the field.

An object of this invention is to provide a cotton harvester which, uponmovement across the field planted with rows of cotton plants, is adaptedto pick upwardly along opposed sides of the plants to therebyeffectively strip the fibrous lint of the open bolls of the plantsAnother object of this invention is to provide a cotton harvesterincluding stripping units for receiving the cotton lint and a closedsuction system for removing the lint from the stripping units andconveying the lint to a suitable storage container.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cotton harvesterincluding spaced stripping units which are adapted to strip upwardlyalong opposed sides of the plants to be stripped in a manner wherein theplants are not uprooted or damaged.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a cottonharvester which is adapted to selectively and simultaneously engageopposed sides of plants to be stripped at different levels, to therebyeffectively strip the fibrous lint of the open bolls without uprootingthe plants.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a cottonharvester adapted to be mounted as an attachment on a tractor or othermotordriven vehicle to be driven by a power take-off from the motor ofits supporting vehicle.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a cottonharvester which is relatively simple in structure and cheap tomanufacture.

The above and still further objects and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent upon consideration of the followingdetailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings,

wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view, with parts broken awayand shown in section, of the cotton harvester of the present inventionattached to a supporting vehicle;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the assembly of the cottonharvester and the supporting vehicle shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 3-3 ofFigure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 44 of Figure1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken along the line55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line5-6 of Figure 4.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like referencenumerals have been used throughout the several views to designate likeparts, there is shown the cotton harvester of the present invention,generally designated by the reference numeral l0, which is adapted to beattached to a tractor I l including a power takeoff l2 and spacedsupporting bars [3 and I4 projecting from one side thereof. The tractorl l further includes the mobile frame l5 which is adapted to traverse afield planted with rows of cotton plants, the tractor being adapted tosupport any number of cotton harvesting units constructed according tothe present invention.

The cotton harvester I0 includes a first stripping unit 20 which isinclined with respect to the field surface being traversed and supportedlongitudinally of the mobile frame l5 contiguous to and beneath thesupporting bars l3 and M. The first stripping unit 20 is engageable withone side of a row of cotton plants to be stripped, and the forward endof the stripping unit is spaced above the field surface, while therearward end of the stripping unit is spaced below the forward endthereof. Supported in partially overlapping, spaced relation withrespect to the first stripping unit is a second stripping unit 2| whichis likewise inclined with respect to the field surface. Although thesecond stripping unit 2| partially overlaps the first stripping unit 20,it is to be noted that the forward end of the second stripping unit 2|is arranged at the same level as the forward end of the first strippingunit, while the rearward end of the second stripping unit is arran ed atthe same level with respect to the rearward end of the first strippingunit. The second stripping unit 2! is contiguous to and engageable withthe other side of the row of cotton plants to be picked. As the machinetraverses the field, the stripping unit 20, which includes a right handspiral saw enga es the right side of the row to be picked while thestripping unit 2|, which includes a left hand spiral saw engages theleft side of the row to be picked.

Since the stri ping units 20 and 2! are of like stru ture. it willsufiice to describe only one in detail. The stripping unit'Z J includesa housing 22 having open inner sides and bottom and comprising a lo ercircular guard 23 and an u per circular guard 24. Disposed within thehousing 22 contiguous to the lower circular guard 23 is a picking orstripping drum 25 which is mounted within the housing on the drum axle26 for rotary movement about a first inclined axis. The picking drum 25includes the cylindrical body 2'! and the vertically extending,longitudinally spaced spiraling vanes 28. The outer periphery of each ofthe spiraling vanes is serrated, as indicated by the reference numeral29, for engagement with the adjacent open bolls of the cotton plants.Spaced above and engaging the picking drum is a brush 30 which ismounted within the housing 22 contiguous to the upper circular guard 24for rotary movement on the brush axle 3| about a second inclined axisspaced above the first inclined axis. The brush 30 includes the brushbody 32 and the steel wire bristles 33 which project from the body 32and are secured thereto, 01' formed integrally therewith. The steel wirebristles 33 serve a dual function, namely, they remove the cotton fromthe serrated vanes 28, and also keep the vanes clean when the same 3come into contact with gum and the like which is liable to collect onthe vanes upon the vanes running against green foliage. The strippingunit 20 further embodies an inverted U-shaped stripping teeth housing34, Figures 3 and 4, having their inner walls 35 and 36 forming spacedguideways, as shown in Figure 6. Rotatably mounted within the auxiliaryhousing 34 contiguous to the ends of the inner wall 36 are the sprocketwheels 31, the sprocket wheels 31 and the guide walls 35 and 36cooperating to support a vertically disposed endless chain 38, having anupper flight adjacent the wall 35 and a lower flight adjacent the wall36, and carrying the spaced teeth or ribs 39. As clearly shown in Figure6, the spaced stripping teeth 39 on the lower flight of the chain 33 areengageable between adjacent vanes of the stripping drum, the teeth beingmounted within the housing 34 for movement in a direction whereby thestripping teeth are moved longitudinally of the stripping drum 25 andalong the spaced spiral vanes 28 thereof. Upon rotary movement of thestripping drum 25 and the brush 30 in the directions indicated by thearrows of Figure 3, the cotton lint will be removed from the bolls onthe adjacent sides of the cotton plants and urged toward enclosedchamber 4| formed in the housing 22 on the side thereof remote from theopen side. As the cotton lint is moved toward the enclosed chamber 4|,the stripping teeth 39 cooperate with the spaced spiral vanes 23 ineffecting the separation of the lint from the bolls. The correspondingparts of the stripping unit 2| are indicated by the same referencenumerals used in identifying the parts of the stripping unit 20, thenumerals of the stripping unit 2| being primed. Upon rotational movementof the stripping drum 25' in the direction illustrated by the arrow inFigure 3, and rotation of the brush 39' in the direction indicated bythe arrow in Figure 3, cotton lint will be stripped from the adjacentside of the cotton plants and passed into the closed chamber 4| formedin the housing 22'. Connected in communication with one end of thechamber 4| is a flexible conduit 43 and connected in communication withthe adjacent end of the chamber 4| of the stripping unit 2| is aflexible conduit 44 which is likewise connected in communication withthe conduit 43. Suitable blower means are r operatively connected to theconduits 43 and 44 for effecting the removal of the contents of theenclosed chambers 4|, 4| of the stripping units 20 and 2|. The blowermeans, as shown in Figure 1, embodies a suction blower 45 which issupported on the mobile frame of the tractor l, the blower including anintake 46 operatively connected in communication with the adjacent endsof the flexible conduits 43 and 44. The blower 45 is driven from anysuitable source by the belt and pulley drive 41. The suction blower 45includes an outlet 48 which is connected in communication with a storagebin 49, the storage bin including the serrated sides 59 permitting theblown air to escape, leaving the cotton lint within the storage bin.

aSuitable means are operatively connected to the stripping drum 25 andthe brush 39 of the stripping unit for effecting the rotary movement ofthe stripping drum about the first inclined axis in the directionindicated in Figure 3, to strip the adjacent side of the row of cottonplants and for effecting the movement of the brush about the secondinclined axis in the opposite direction to urge the stripped cotton intothe adjacent closed chamber 4|. Similar means are operatively connectedto the stripping drum 25 and the brush 30 of the stripping unit 2| foreffecting the movement of the stripping drum 25' about the drum axle 26'in a direction to strip along the other side of the row of cottonplants, and for effecting the movement of the brush 30' about the brushaxle 3| in the opposite direction to urge the stripped cotton into theenclosed chamber 4|. Since the structure for actuating each of thestripping unit 20 and 2| is the same, it will suflice to describe onlyone in detail. Secured to the forward end of the housing 22 of thestripping unit 20 is a gear housing 5|. Journaled transversely of thegear housing 5| is a. stub shaft 52 carrying a drive gear 53 and atoothed sprocket wheel 58, the stub shaft having one end secured to theadjacent drum axle 26 and having the other end projecting exteriorly ofthe gear housing 5 Spaced from the stub shaft 52 is a stub shaft 54which is likewise journaled transversely of the gear housing, the stubshaft 54 carrying a toothed sprocket wheel 55 and a bevel gear 56. Inmeshing engagement with the bevel gear 56 is another bevel gear 51 whichis operatively connected to the sprocket wheel 31 for driving chain 38in the direction whereby the stripping teeth 39 are moved longitudinallyof the stripping drum 25 and along the spaced spiral vanes 29. Thesprocket wheel 58 of the stub shaft 52 is connected to the sprocketwheel 55 of the stub shaft 54 by means of an endless chain 59.Accordingly, the stripping drum 25 and the stripping teeth 39 areoperatively connected together and actuable in response to the rotarymovement of the stub shaft 52.

Disposed transversely of the stub shaft 52 is a rocking arm 93 which hasone end pivotally supported in the shaft 52 and has the other endprovided with an enlarged head 94. Arranged in spaced, parallel relationwith respect to the stub shaft 52 is another stub shaft 95 which has oneend secured to the arm 93 contiguous to the head 94, the shaft 95supporting a pinion 96 in meshing engagement with the drive gear 53 anda large pulley 91.

As clearly shown in Figure 5, the adjacent end of the brush axle 3| isJournaled within the gear housing 5| and is coupled to the large pulley91 by means of an endless belt 98 which is trained about the pulley 99carried by the brush axle 3| and the pulley 91. To maintain the belt 98under a desired tension, the rocking arm 93 is secured in a selectposition of its rocking movement by means of a bolt [00 which extendsthrough an arcuate slot |0| provided in the head 94 and is secured tothe adjacent wall of the housing 5|. It is to be noted that the rockingarm 93 and associated structure provide means whereby a desired tensioncan be maintained on the belt 99, which normally stretches in use.Accordingly, the stripping drum 25, brush 30 and the stripping teeth 39are all operativel connected together and actuable in response to therotary movement of the stub shaft 52 carrying the drive gear 53.

The stub shaft 52 is driven from the power take-off 2 by means of astructure to be now described. Projecting from the adjacent side of themobile tractor frame I5 is a supporting rod 6| which carries a rotatablysupported driven sleeve 62 having secured thereto a driven bevel gear63. The driven sleeve 62 is actuated from the power take-off I2 by meansof the belt-andpulley coupling generally designated by the refer- 'encenumeral 64. Mounted between the adjacent cross bar l4 and the supportingrod BI is a gear frame 65 which supports the pinion gear 66 in meshingengagement with the bevel gear 53. The

Accordingly, upon coupling of the connecting shaft 6'? is rotated, andthe respective components of the stripping unit 20 are actuated.Similarly, the stripping unit 2| is driven by means of the bevel gear 53carried by the driven sleeve 62, the bevel pinion 66' in meshingengagement with the bevel gear 63', the connecting shaft 61' and theuniversal joints 68' and 69.

Suitable means are carried by the cross braces l3 and M of the tractor Hand operatively connected to the stripping units 29 and 2| forsupporting same and for mounting the stripping units for simultaneousmovement toward and away from. the field surface. The structure formounting the stripping units includes the rotatably supported sleeves Hand 12 supported on the cross braces I3 and M. The sleeves H and 12 areconnected together for simultaneous rotary movement by means of theupstanding arms 13 and 74 carried b the sleeves H and 72, and theconnecting link 15 which is pivotally supported between the free ends ofthe arms '13 and M. The sleeve "H is operatively connected to the lowerend of the stripping unit by means of the rearwardly projecting fixedarm '16 and the pivotally connected linkages 1'! and 18. Similarly, thesleeve H is connected to the outermost end of the stripping unit 2! bymeans of the rearwardly projecting fixed arm 15 and the pivotallyconnected links 17' and '18. Accordingly, upon effecting the clockwisemovement of the sleeve ll about the cross brace l3, the rearward end ofeach of the stripping units 2% and 2! will be elevated with respect tothe field surface. A suitable operative connection is provided betweenthe sleeve '52 supported on the cross brace i and the adjacent forwardends of the stripping units 263 and for simultaneously effecting themovement of the forward ends in response to the movement of the rearwardends of the stripping units. An arm 80 is fixed to the sleeve 12, thearm being connected to the adjacent forward end of the stripping unit2!! by means of the pivoted linkage 8!. Similarly, another arm 86' isfixed to thesleeve l2 and operatively connected to the adjacent upperend of the stripping unit 2! by linkage 8!. Since the sleeves II and F2are operatively connected to each other for simultaneous movement,rotary movement of the sleeve H in a clockwise direction will move thestripping units 20 and 2! away from the field surface and movement ofthe sleeve ii in a counterclockwise direction will effect the movementof the stripping units toward the field surface.

Suitable resilient means are operatively connected to the strippingunits for supporting the units in a select position of their movementtoward the field surface. A clearly shown in Figure l, a tension spring83 is operatively connected between the connecting links i5 and thesleeve 12. It is to be noted that the point of connection to theconnecting link "55 of the spring 83 can be varied, since the connectinglink is provided with longitudinally spaced apertures 84. The spring 83normally biases the sleeves ii and 12 into a select position of theirmovement against the oppositely directed force exerted by the weightstripping units 20 and 2! may be obtained.

Manually actuable means operable contiguous to the suction blower 45 onthe mobile tractor frame l5 are operatively connected to the strippingunits for moving the same into a select position of their movement awayfrom the field surface. As clearly shown in Figure 1, the rotatablesleeve H is provided with a downwardly depending extension and thetractor frame I5 is provided with an arcuate keeper 86. Pivotally sup-'-ported contiguous to the keeper 86 is a lever 81 which is operativelyconnected to the extension 85 by means of the pivoted linkage 88. Thelever 81 carries a latch piece 89, the latch piece nor- -mally ridingalong the arcuate keeper 86 and being selectively engageable withinnotches 90 provided in the keeper 86. Upon effecting thecounterclockwise movement of the lever 81 about the pivotal axis 91thereof, a clockwise rotary movement is imparted to the sleeve H whichurges the stripping units away fromthe field surface. When it is desiredto move the cotton stripper from place to place, it is merely necessaryto move the lever 81 in a counterclockwise direction until the latchpiece 89 engages within the notches 9B of the keeper 86, and thestripping units 20 and 2| will beheld in a position spaced above theground surface and out of the normally resiliently supported position.

It is apparent to one skilled in the art that the pair of strippingunits 20 and 2! can be supported contiguous to each side of the mobiletractor picked, and urge the cotton into the enclosed chambers H and 4 Iwhereupon the suction blower 45 effects the removal of the strippedcotton from the chambers and carries the stripped cotton into thestorage bin 48 carried on the tractor frame [5.

In the construction of the picking drums 25, illustrated in Figure 1 ofthe drawings, six spiraled, serrated vanes 28 are secured longitudinallyof the body 21, each of the vanes traversing the cotton plants from topto bottom in response to the forward movement of the harvester. Themovement of the serrated vanes or saws 28 is timed with respect to theforward movement of the harvester to thereby ensure the vanes enteringeach of the cotton plants at the top there of, running down the plant,and leaving the bottom of the plant in the same manner as the entry tothe top thereof. Furthermore, the movement of the chain 38 carrying theribs 39 is timed It is readily apparent that numerous othermodifications of the cotton harvester of the present invention can bemade without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth inthe appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a cotton harvester for attachment to a tractor including a mobileframe and a power takeoff, a pair of stripping units arranged iniongitudinal spaced and partially overlapping relation with respect toeach other and to said tractor inwardly of the forward end of the latterand supported on said tractor at an angle with respect to a groundsurface, the forward ends of said stripping units being spaced a greaterdistance from said ground surface than the rearward ends thereof, eachof said stripping units comprising a longitudinally extending housinghaving one side open, the open sides of said housings facing each other,a drum positioned longitudinally of and within each of said housings andsupported therein for opposite rotary movement relative to each otherabout a separate axis inclined with respect to said ground surface, aplurality of vanes arranged in spiral relation about the outer peripheryof each of said drums and carried thereby, the angle of inclination ofeach of said drum axes being such that the vanes of said drums lie insubstantially vertical planes, a brush positioned longitudinally withineach of said housings and spaced above the adjacent drum and mounted forrotary movement about an axis parallel to said inclined axis of saidadjacent drum, a conduit extending longitudinally of each of saidhousings and in communication there- .with, blower means being connectedto each of said conduits, and means operatively connecting said powertakeoff and each of said drums and brushes for effecting the individualrotary movement thereof, each of said drums rotating about its inclinedaxis in a direction to strip upwardly the opposite sides of the plantsof a row, each of said brushes rotating about its inclined axis in adirection opposite to that of the adjacent drum to urge the strippedcotton into the adjacent one of said conduits.

2. In a cotton harvester for attachment to a tractor including a mobileframe and a power takeoff, a pair of stripping units arranged in1ongitudinal spaced and partially overlapping relation with respect toeach other and to said tractor inwardly of the forward end of the latterand supported on said tractor at an angle with respect to the groundsurface, the forward ends of said stripping units being spaced a greaterdistance from said ground surface than the rearward ends thereof, eachof said stripping units comprising a longitudinally extending housinghaving one side open, the open sides of said housing facing each other,a drum positioned longitudinally of and within each of said housings andsupported therein for opposite rotary movement relative to each otherabout a separate axis inclined with respect to said ground surface, aplurality of vanes arranged in spiral relation about the outer peripheryof each of said drums and carried thereby, the angle of inclination ofeach of said drum axes being such that the vanes of said drums lie insubstantially vertical planes, a brush positioned longitudinally withineach of said housings and spaced above the adjacent drum and mounted forrotary movement about an axis parallel to said inclined axis of saidadjacent drum, an endless chain rotatable in a vertical planeandpositioned longitudinally of each of said housings and having thelower flight contiguous to and in parallel spaced relation with respectto the adjacent drum, a plurality of teeth arranged in spaced relationalong said endless chain and having one end fixedly secured thereto, theportions of the teeth inwardly of the other end on the lower flight ofsaid chain being engageable between adjacent vanes of the contiguousdrum, means operatively connecting each of said endless chains to saidpower takeoff for effecting the rotary movement of said chains. aconduit extending longitudinally of each of said housings and incommunication therewith, blower means being connected to each of saidconduits, and means operatively connecting said power takeoff and eachof said drums and brushes for effecting the individual rotary movementthereof, each of said drums rotatin about its inclined axis in adirection to strip upwardly the opposite sides of the plants of a row,each of said brushes rotating about its inclined axis in a directionopposite to that of the adjacent drum to urge the stripped cotton intothe adjacent one of said conduits.

3. In a cotton harvester for attachment to a tractor including a mobileframe and a power takeoff, a pair of stripping units arranged inlongitudinal spaced and partially overlapping relation with respect toeach other and to said tractor inwardly of the forward end of the latterand supported on said tractor at an angle with respect to the groundsurface, the forward ends of said stripping units being spaced a greaterdistance from said ground surface than the rearward ends thereof, eachof said stripping units comprising a longitudinally extending housinghaving one side open, the open sides of said housing facing each other,a drum positioned longitudinally of and within each of said housings andsupported therein for opposite rotary movement relative to each otherabout a separate axis inclined with respect to said ground surface, aplurality of vanes arranged in spiral relation about the outer peripheryof each of said drums and carried thereby, the angle of inclination ofeach of said drum axes being such that the vanes of said drums lie insubstantially vertical planes, a brush positioned longitudinally withineach of said housings and spaced above the adjacent drum and mounted forrotary movement about an axis parallel to said inclined axis of saidadjacent drum, an endless chain rotatable in a vertical plane andpositioned longitudinally of each of said housings and having the lowerflight contiguous to and in parallel spaced relation with respect to theadjacent drum, a plurality of teeth arranged in spaced relation alongsaid endless chain and having one end fixedly secured thereto, theportions of the teeth inwardly of the other end on the lower flight ofsaid chain being engageable between adjacent vanes of the contiguousdrum, means operatively connecting each of said endless chains to saidpower takeoff for effecting the rotary movement of said chains, aconduit extending longitudinally of each of said housings and incommunication therewith, blower means being connected to each of saidconduits, and means operatively connecting said power takeoff to each ofsaid drums. brushes, and chains and synchronizing the rotary movement ofeach of said drums with the movement of said tractor so that thehorizontal velocity components of said tractor and the vanes carried byeach of said drums are equal but opposite in direction, each of saiddrums rotating about its inclined axis in a direction to strip upwardlythe opposite sides of the plants of a row, each of said brushes rotatingabout its inclined axis in a direction opposite to that of the adjacentdrum to urge the stripped cotton into the adjacent one of said conduits.

4. In a cotton harvester for attachment to a tractor including a mobileframe and a power takeoff, a pair of stripping units arranged inlongitudinal spaced and partially overlapping relation with respect toeach other and to said tractor inwardly of the forward end of the latterand supported on said tractor at an angle with respect to the groundsurface, the forward ends of said stripping units being spaced a greaterdistance from said ground surface than the rearward ends thereof, eachof said stripping units comprising a longitudinally extending housinghaving one side open, the open sides of said housing facing each other,a drum positioned longitudinally of and Within each of said housings andsupported therein for opposite rotary movement relative to each otherabout a separate axis inclined with respect to said ground surface, aplurality of vanes arranged in spiral relation about the outer peripheryof each of said drums and carried thereby, the edge of each of saidvanes being serrated, the vanes on one of said drums being mounted in aleft handed spiral and the vanes on the other of said drums beingmounted in a right handed spiral so that the vanes move in a horizontaldirection opposite to that of the tractor, the angle of inclination ofeach of said drum axes being such that the vanes of said drums lie insubstantially vertical planes, a brush positioned longitudinally withineach of said housings and spaced above the adjacent drum and mounted forrotary movement about an axis parallel to said inclined axis of saidadjacent drum, an endless chain rotatable in a vertical plane andpositioned longitudinally of each of said housings and having the lowerflight contiguous to and in parallel spaced relation with respect to theadjacent drum, a plurality of teeth arranged in spaced relation alongsaid endless chain and having one end fixedly secured thereto, theportions of the teeth inwardly of the other end on the lower flight ofsaid chain being engageable between adjacent vanes of the contiguousdrum, means operatively connecting each of said endless chains to saidpower takeoff for effecting the rotary movement of said chains, aconduit extending longitudinally of each of said housings and incommuni-- cation therewith, blower means being connected to each of saidconduits, and means operatively connecting said power takeoff to each ofsaid drums, brushes, and chains and synchronizing the movement of eachof said drums with the movement of said tractor so that the horizontalvelocity components of said tractor and the vanes carried by each ofsaid drums are equal but opposite in direction, each of said drumsrotating about its inclined axis in a direction to strip upwardly theopposite sides of the plants of a row, each of said brushes rotatingabout its inclined axis in a direction opposite to that of the adjacentdrum to urge the stripped cotton into the adjacent one of said conduits.

5. In a cotton harvester for attachment to a tractor including a mobileframe and a power takeoff, a pair of stripping units arranged inlongitudinal spaced and partially overlapping relation with respect toeach other and to said tractor inwardly of the forward end of the latterand 10 supported on said tractor at an angle with respect to the groundsurface, the forward ends of said stripping units being spaced a greaterdistance from said ground surface than the rearward ends thereof, eachof said stripping units comprising a longitudinally extending housinghaving one side open, the open sides of said housing facing each other,a drum positioned longitudinally of and within each of said housings andsupported therein for opposite rotary movement relative to each otherabout a separate axis inclined with respect to said ground surface, aplurality of vanes arranged in spiral relation about the outer peripheryof each of said drums and carried thereby, the edge of each of saidvanes being serrated, the vanes on one of said drums being mounted in aleft handed spiral and the vanes on the other of said drums beingmounted in a right handed spiral so that the vanes move in a horizontaldirection opposite to that of the tractor, the angle of inclination ofeach of said drum axes being such that the vanes of said drums lie insubstantially vertical planes, a brush positioned longitudinally withineach of said housings and spaced above the adjacent drum and mounted forrotary movement about an axis parallel to said inclined axis of saidadjacent drum, an endless chain rotatable in a vertical plane andpositioned longitudinally of each of said housings and having the lowerflight contiguous to and in parallel spaced relation with respect to theadjacent drum, a plurality of teeth arranged in spaced relation alongsaid endless chain and having one end fixedly secured thereto, theportions of the teeth inwardly of the other end on the lower flight ofsaid chain being engageable between adjacent vanes of the contiguousdrum, means operatively connecting each of said endless chains to saidpower takeoff for effecting the rotary movement of said chains, aconduit extending longitudinally of each of said housings and incommunication therewith, blower means being connected to each of saidconduits, means operatively connecting said power takeoff to each ofsaid drums, brushes, and chains and synchronizing the movement of eachof said drums with the movement of said tractor so that the horizontalvelocity components of said tractor and the vanes carried by each ofsaid drums are equal but opposite in direction, each of said drumsrotating about its inclined axis in a direction to strip upwardly theopposite sides of the plants of a row, each of said brushes rotatingabout its inclined axis in a direction opposite to that of the adjacentdrum to urge the stripped cotton into the adjacent one of said conduits,means operatively connecting said frame and each of said stripper unitsfor effecting the simultaneous movement of the latter toward and awayfrom the ground surface, and resilient means operatively connecting theforward and rearward ends of said stripper units so as to counterbalancethe weight of said stripper units.

GUSTAV A. PRUSER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,213,529 Neil Jan. 23, 1917 2,451,130 Towsend Oct. 12, 19482,475,531 Towsend July 5. 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date18,564 Denmark Mar. 16, 1914

